LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tuesday was as low scoring of an affair as one could as for, as the Dodgers came away with their second 1-0 win since June 5.
In what has been an unbelievable offensive stretch since May 12, Shohei Ohtani kept it going as he provided the only offense for either side, blasting a solo home run against Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ohtani has now homered four times over his last six games and has hit nine home runs over the last five weeks.
Dave Roberts noted post-game that Ohtani has made some recent adjustments at the plate that are helping him not just see the ball better but helping hit the ball with authority to all fields, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.
“It’s just near missing the baseball in the sense of, he was hitting the ball hard — doubles, some singles — and then if he was just missing it a little bit, there was going to be slug,” Roberts said. “Seeing the baseball well, swinging at good pitches. When he uses a big part of the field, there’s just no holding him back.”
There was some concern about Ohtani’s status on the mound after he missed Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox due to left knee inflammation, but he is cleared to make his scheduled start Wednesday, per Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register.
Justin Wrobleski provided much of the heavy lifting on Tuesday, out dueling Rasmussen with six shutout innings and bouncing back after a rough start in Pittsburgh.
Wrobleski’s pitch count was at just 67 (50 for strikes) after six innings, and Dave Roberts commended the left-hander for his ability to persistently attack the zone and remain ahead in the count, per Hollmon.
“He was attacking all night. That’s who he is,” Roberts said of the left-hander. “Just the dependability with Wrob in the sense that you know that he’s going to go after guys. His first pitch is like his last pitch and he’s the epitome of go as hard as you can for as long as you can — until the manager takes the ball from you. Tonight, we asked [for] six innings and he did that and he passed it to the ’pen and they were fantastic.”
Kyle Tucker has been enjoying a nice little stretch on this current homestand, hitting his first home run at Dodger Stadium in two months on Monday while having three hits and three RBI in the two games against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tucker spoke to the media on Monday where he acknowledged the lofty expectations his contract placed upon him, noting that his time as a Dodger has gotten off to a lethargic introduction, per Fredo Cervantes of The Sporting Tribune.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 1-10 this season.
Lukáš Dostál
Dostál entered the 2025-26 season as the unquestioned starting goaltender after John Gibson was traded to the Detroit Red Wings during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. In the second year of his six-year contract extension that he signed in July 2025, Dostál appeared in 56 games (55 starts), putting up a 30-20-4 record with a .888 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He eclipsed his career high in games played for the third consecutive season and had the first 30-win season of his NHL career.
The Ducks' season fell largely on Dostál's performances, as he carried them through several winning streaks and also endured a couple of losing streaks. He missed time in September (during preseason) and December with two separate injuries: a sprained ankle and a broken finger.
Dostál revealed the extent of his injuries during an interview with Czech news outlet iSport. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek had revealed during a preseason interview with Ducks Stream that Dostál suffered the sprained ankle (simply referred to as a lower-body injury at the time) while walking down his stairs at home. Dostál said during his interview with iSport that a shot broke the front joint of his middle finger in his catching (left) hand.
"At the beginning of the season I sprained my ankle," Dostál said (translated from Czech) "And halfway through the season a shot broke the front joint of my middle finger. I played with it for a while, the pain was manageable and it gradually healed. Still, I managed to play over seventy matches, which is also an important indicator for me that I can handle it physically."
May 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) defends the goal during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
It's unclear to what extent Dostal's finger injury healed, but he did appear to have issues catching the puck cleanly during the Ducks' playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights. His playoff performances had plenty of peaks and valleys. He allowed less than three goals in just three of the Ducks' 12 playoff games and had a save percentage over .900 in only four of those games. However, the Ducks lost two of those four games.
While his playoff performances weren't as consistent as one might have hoped for, it's easy to forget that this season was the most games that Dostál has ever played in his professional career. 56 regular season games on top of 12 playoff games plus four games at the Winter Olympics in the middle of a jam-packed NHL schedule.
"Next year is gonna be kind of easier, especially after my first year being No. 1," Dostál said. "So that's going to be definitely easier to adjust some of your preparations. Some of the things that I actually told Sudsie (director of goaltending Sudarshan Maharaj) and (goaltending coach) Peter (Budaj), I always like to do a lot of things, but maybe, sometimes, it's better to slow down a bit. So it might be something that I might focus on for next year, sometimes to take a little bit more rest. Mentally, physically, you can be just a little bit more rested so you can be sharper in those games. In some of the games I knew that some goals slipped in that shouldn't happen. That's definitely going to be the goal for next year to keep that consistency."
Jackson LaCombe
LaCombe built off his breakout season from last season as a sophomore, setting another career high in points (58) and appearing in all 82 games for the Ducks in 2025-26, one of three Ducks to do so this season. Before he even began the season, he was rewarded with an eight-year, $72 million contract extension. The contract made LaCombe the highest-paid player in franchise history.
Playing the role of No. 1 defenseman, LaCombe was the primary point option on Anaheim's top power play unit up until John Carlson was acquired from the Washington Capitals in March. LaCombe had 14 power play points in 66 games prior to Carlson's arrival and had three power play points in the 16 following games. With Carlson expected to hit the open market and likely head back east, LaCombe is primed to fill the point option on the top power play unit once again.
LaCombe spent most of the 2025-26 season paired with Jacob Trouba, who is a pending UFA. Head coach Joel Quenneville leaned heavily on the pairing down the stretch and especially once the playoffs rolled around. With Carlson on his way out, Trouba will become the primary UFA target for general manager Pat Verbeek to re-sign. What ballpark Trouba's number falls into could affect whether he returns or departs. During his exit interview, Trouba said that Verbeek and he had preliminary discussions at the trade deadline about an extension but that it "didn't get very far." LaCombe has shown he fares well playing alongside more of a defensive-minded partner like Trouba or Radko Gudas before him. If Trouba also departs, Verbeek would be wise to seek out a similar partner for LaCombe, whether via trade or free agency.
Ian Moore
You'd be hard-fetched to find someone who was more of a team player this year than Moore. Not only did he flip-flop between forward and defense throughout the season, but he happily conceded his No. 74 to Carlson when he arrived from the Capitals, switching to No. 3. Moore said that he chose 3 because he wore it while playing for the Chicago Steel in the USHL.
After making his NHL debut and playing in three games at the end of the 2024-25 season, Moore broke camp with the Ducks to start the 2025-26 season. He didn't make an appearance until the fifth game of the season, filling in as a seventh defenseman/fourth line forward hybrid. He received consistent playing as a defensemen for most of November before being healthy scratched for five consecutive games at the end of that month. When he was re-inserted into the lineup, it was as a fourth line winger.
Moore continued to fill this role for a majority of the rest of the regular season, making sporadic appearances on the backend. Carlson's acquisition relegated Moore further to forward duties, but a late-season injury to Gudas opened the door for more opportunities on the blue line. However, an inadequate performance while playing on his off-side against the San Jose Sharks on Apr. 1 shifted him back to forward full-time for the rest of the season.
Apr 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defensemen Ian Moore (3) waits for the play to begin against the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The fourth line featured Jeff Viel, Tim Washe and Moore to start the Ducks' 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs run, as this unorthodox line kept Connor McDavid at bay for most of the six-game series. But injuries to both Gudas and Helleson required Moore to jump back to defense, where he was paired with Olen Zellweger, who had played infrequently following Carlson's acquisition and Tyson Hinds' promotion from the AHL. The Zellweger-Moore pairing held their own during the latter stages of the series against the Golden Knights, though the Ducks fell in six games.
Moore should without a doubt return to the blue line in permanent fashion in 2026-27. While his work as a winger is admirable, his intelligence and skills shine brighter as a defenseman than as a forward. Targeting offseason additions to bolster the forward depth should be a priority for Verbeek this season. A defenseman shouldn't be one of the first options to fill in at forward, no matter how smart he is.
With the right side of Anaheim's defense currently in flux, an opportunity has developed for Moore to stake his claim at a full-time role. Helleson and Tristan Luneau are also competing for regular roles, which makes for plenty of competition.
Radko Gudas
Gudas has served as the Ducks' captain for the past two seasons. He joined the team in the summer of 2023, signing a three-year deal. He provided a steady partner for LaCombe, who was in his first full season as an NHLer and was one of their better players during rookie head coach Greg Cronin's first year at the helm.
After being named captain prior to the 2024-25 season, Gudas was unable to replicate his form from the previous season, often finding himself out of position and having to take a penalty to prevent prime scoring opportunities. During his 2026 exit interview, he revealed that a lingering ankle injury had affected him for the past few years and was exacerbated by a sprained ankle that he suffered late in the 2025-26 regular season.
Some of Gudas' decline can be attributed to age. He recently turned 36 and his style of play doesn't cater well to decreased physical attributes. He was never the quickest or fastest skater, but being out of position on a regular basis can rear its ugly head, especially as a defenseman. There are still some positive elements that Gudas possesses, though. His knack for giving opponents a hard time in front of his goaltender's crease is something that the Ducks lacked, especially in their series against the Golden Knights. They may not bring him back (he is a pending UFA), but they do need someone who can fill a similar role as a crease clearer.
For as polarizing as his Ducks career has been to this point, Gudas joined the organization at a crucial point in their rebuilding process. His teammates have spoken glowingly of him, especially his younger defensive compatriots. He owned up to his ill-advised knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews and faced the music (despite suffering a sprained ankle just a few games before) when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Ducks again a couple of weeks later. If he's unable to find a role with an NHL team next season, whether with the Ducks or another organization, a return to Czechia to finish out his professional career––similar to what former Duck Jakob Silfverberg is currently doing––appears likely.
Even with the Stanley Cup Final now behind him and the Golden Knights’ championship hopes dashed, Mitch Marner chose to lift the curtain on a period he once said he would only discuss if his new team hoisted the Cup.
During end-of-season media availability Tuesday at City National Arena, the former Maple Leafs winger elaborated on comments he made earlier in the postseason about enduring “dark days” comments he had conditioned on a Vegas victory during the Cup Final media day. The Knights fell short, but Marner spoke anyway, offering a raw window into the mental health challenges that shadowed much of his final five years in Toronto.
“Mental health is a super important thing to me. It really is,” Marner said. “I’ve been really trying to take care of my mental health probably for the last five years or so. There were some really dark moments there when the thought of playing hockey was really tough, honestly, in a lot of ways. It was just kind of a dark vibe, a dark hole in a way. I’m very thankful that I had people around me.”
The 29-year-old, who opted not to re-sign with the Leafs last season, was traded to Vegas last July after a decade with the organization that drafted him fourth overall in 2015. He has long been one of the NHL’s most polarizing figures, particularly in the city he once called home. In Toronto, Marner was both celebrated as a generational talent and scrutinized under the unrelenting microscope that comes with being a core piece of a franchise starved for a Stanley Cup since 1967. Massive contract negotiations, social-media pile-ons after playoff disappointments, and the constant weight of expectations created an environment where, by his own admission, the game itself began to feel like a burden.
Marner credited the support system that helped pull him through—family, close friends, and teammates both past and present. He has previously spoken about stepping away from social media as a necessary step in protecting his well-being, a move that drew its own share of criticism from fans who interpreted it as avoidance rather than self-preservation.
Mitch Marner dove into what the aforementioned "dark days" entailed over the last five years in Toronto, thanking former Leafs teammates and his family ♥️
What made Tuesday’s comments particularly noteworthy was the context in which they arrived. On media day ahead of the Cup Final, Marner had been asked about those same “dark times” and indicated he would only expand on them “in the coming weeks” if the Golden Knights won the championship. They did not. Yet, when Golden Knights beat writer Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal followed up Tuesday, specifically asking Marner to elaborate on the earlier remark, the forward did not dodge the question.
Marner’s candor comes at a time when the NHL is still grappling with the visibility of mental health issues in the sport. His willingness to speak publicly, even after a painful loss and without the “win-first” condition being met, drew praise from some quarters as a step toward normalizing these conversations. Others, particularly among the Leafs fanbase that watched him leave as a restricted free agent and then excel in a lower-pressure market, viewed the timing and framing with skepticism, wondering aloud whether the narrative would have sounded the same had Vegas won.
Mitch Marner didn't want to elaborate on his comment about going through "dark times" earlier in his hockey career, but says he will if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.
The trade to Vegas was framed by some as an escape from that pressure cooker. In his first season with the Golden Knights, Marner’s numbers sagged early as he found an identity with a new team. During the playoffs, he was the NHL’s leading point-getter with 29 in 24 games. He was a shoo-in to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoffs MVP had the Golden Knights won the Cup. The move to Vegas appeared to rejuvenate him. Off it, he now says, the work of maintaining his mental health remains ongoing.
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The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
Former Kentucky player Jayden Quaintance might not be available when the Lakers are scheduled to pick at No. 25 in the 2026 NBA Draft. NBAE via Getty Images
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter, there isn’t a shortage of options.
Toward the top of that list, should he be available for the Lakers to draft, is Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance.
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky big
2025-26 stats (Kentucky): 5 points (57.1% shooting), 5 rebounds, 16.8 minutes in four games
2024-25 stats (Arizona State): 9.4 points (52.5% shooting — 60% on 2-pointers, 18.8% on 3-pointers), 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 29.5 minutes in 24 games
The defensive potential is what makes Quaintance such an intriguing prospect.
His blend of size, length, athleticism, quick-twitch and strength made him a versatile and formidable defender in college.
Quaintance can play drop coverage and prioritize protecting the rim with his long arms and leaping ability, as well as switch out on the perimeter and stick with opposing ball handlers because of his coordination, lateral-movement fluidity and quickness.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has to decide if Quaintance’s health history negates his potential. The ex-Kentucky and Arizona State player might be selected before LA is on the clock in the first round. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
And his strength makes it challenging for bigger players to bump him off his spots.
Quaintance’s simply physically imposing: As a rebounder. As a rim protector. As a screener. As an over interior presence on both ends of the floor.
He’s a forceful player who should be ready for the NBA’s physicality from Day 1.
It doesn’t take much imagination to envision Quaintance developing into the type of player who can be a rim-running lob threat on one end and defensive anchor on the other, controlling the boards and helping win the possession battle with his knack for steals and offensive rebounds.
And as one of the younger players in his draft class — he played his entire freshman seasons at 17 years old and doesn’t turn 19 until July — there are reasons to be optimistic about his ability to further develop the passing and self-creation he showed glimpses of in college.
It’d take development and patience, but Quaintance fits into the archetype of big man Doncic thrives alongside.
Areas of improvement?
Before focusing on the medical side of things, Quaintance has pretty clear areas of improvement.
His poor free-throw shooting in college (45.2% — 38-of-84) makes it challenging to see him develop into a reliable shooting threat outside of the paint. He made 6-of-32 3-point attempts during his freshman season with the Sun Devils.
And Quaintance already could use improvement with finishing around the basket and having a softer touch around the rim on non-dunks/contested finishes that require more finesse.
Outside of taking slow-footed big men off the dribble, he wasn’t much of an offensive creator in college.
And there’s an overall refinement of his game on both ends of the floor that’ll take time to hone in on — which isn’t surprising considering his age and the fact he played just 28 games/776 minutes in college.
But the biggest concern about Quaintance, who’s a draft-lottery-level talent, will be on the medical side, which is something teams should get clarity on ahead of the draft.
He only played 67 minutes across four games with Kentucky during his sophomore season due to swelling in his right knee — the same knee in which he suffered a torn ACL in February 2025 during his freshman year.
Quaintance told the Lexington Herald-Leader at the combine last month that his knee felt good but wasn’t fully participating in the running, conditioning and “high-impact stuff” activities.
He took part in his agency’s pro day in May.
Quaintance will likely be drafted before the Lakers are on the clock with the No. 25 pick. But if Quaintance is available, the Lakers should take a shot on his upside despite the concerns.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Toumani Camara #20 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2023 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 15, 2023 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the NBA Draft draws near, I thought it would be fun to go on a little journey. I had no idea it would take me to the corners of Basketball Reference and NBA dot com, spending countless hours mining data, comparing players and eras, and learning more about the vast 80-year history of the NBA. What started as a stroll through previous drafts to answer my own simple question became a maniacal quest that has eaten up weekends. But it’s 111° outside, so I ain’t going out there.
Every now and then, I like to disappear down a basketball rabbit hole. The last time I did that, it turned into an entire book as I explored the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid.
This time, I figured I’d create something I can keep coming back to for years. Whenever the draft season rolls around, and the Phoenix Suns find themselves selecting at a particular spot, I always wonder the same thing: What’s the ceiling of that pick? Who is the best player ever selected there? And so begins my adventure to answer these questions.
The Suns aren’t often drafting first overall. In fact, they’ve only done it once in franchise history, which is 1.7% of the time if you include the 2026 NBA Draft. Considering they don’t control many of their own future first-round picks, there’s a good chance we’ll continue seeing them draft from some interesting positions over the coming years. Perhaps they’ll do something they’ve never done: make a draft selection at 41, 37, 26, 12, or 3. After all, if everything holds true, the Suns will be selecting at 47th overall for the first time ever.
Fun Suns Draft Fact: The franchise has never drafted from picks 3, 12, 26, 37, or 47.
They currently own the 47th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, meaning there’s a good chance they’ll cross one of the final untouched draft slots off the list in 1 week
Understanding who might be available at a given draft slot is important. Having historical context is fun too. So with that in mind, I decided to put together a list of the best players ever drafted at every draft position in NBA history. All of them. One through 60.
What follows is a six-part series in which I work through every draft slot and make the case for who I believe is the greatest player selected at that position. In the same breath, I’m dishing out some Suns history lessons as well, as we explore everyone the Suns drafted at that position.
There will be plenty of subjectivity involved. There will be bias. There will certainly be some personal attachment to a few players along the way. And in some cases, there simply won’t be many strong options. Once you get into the back half of the second round, NBA history becomes a strange place. Many of those selections were international prospects who never came over, players who spent their careers overseas, or players who never appeared in an NBA game.
That’s part of what makes this exercise interesting. Some picks are loaded with Hall of Famers. Others feel like a scavenger hunt. Either way, the goal is the same: To identify the best player ever selected at every draft position and create a reference point for future draft nights.
So with that, let’s begin the countdown. From 60 to 1. The best player from every draft slot in NBA history.
60. Michael Cooper (1978)
Michael Cooper #21, Shooting Guard for the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on 11th January 1987 at The Forum arena in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Lakers won the game 111 – 109. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Isaiah Thomas (2011)
Drazen Petrovic (1986)
Suns Taken at 60:
Ronnie Robinson (1973)*
Dwayne Collins (2010)**
*opted to stay in the ABA **pick acquired from Cleveland for Shaquille O’Neal
How did the Showtime Lakers become so successful? They made all the right moves, which included drafting Michael Cooper with the 60th overall pick in the third round of the 1978 draft. Sure, you can appreciate that Isaiah Thomas was a two-time All-Star and that Drazen Petrovic, a Hall of Famer (the only Hall of Famer drafted 60th), averaged 15.4 points in his tragically shortened NBA career. But Michael Cooper was a five-time NBA champion who played a major role on those teams.
Cooper didn’t do it on the offensive end, where the team was revolutionary. No, he was the steadying wing defender that allowed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be so effective on the interior. Cooper won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and was an 8-time All-Defensive Team recipient. Not bad for someone drafted 60th.
59. Pat Cummings (1978)
MILWAUKEE, WI – CIRCA 1980: Pat Cummings #6 of Milwaukee Bucks in action against the San Diego Clippers during an NBA basketball game circa 1980 at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cummings played for the Bucks from 1979-82. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Jimmy Black (1978)
Suns Taken at 59:
Matt Gantt (1972)
John Campbell (1980)*
Murray Jarman (1984)
DJ Strawberry (2007)
George King (2018)**
*pick acquired from Washington for Steve Malovic **pick acquired from Toronto for PJ Tucker
Wow. 1978, a great year for late-round talent, eh? Well, not really.
The 59th pick has generated a deeper collection of players who carved out meaningful professional careers, just not in the NBA. While it has not produced a Hall of Fame-caliber NBA player, it has produced an NBA All-Star, multiple long-term starters, championship contributors, and several international legends.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Pat Cummings 59th overall in 1978 and set in motion a solid NBA career that would last 12 seasons. The 6’9” power forward from the University of Cincinnati would play 683 games in the NBA, starting 308. He did so for the Bucks, Mavericks, Knicks, Heat, and Jazz. He averaged 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. These ain’t numbers that jump off the screen, but at pick 59, I’d taken them. I’d take Cimmings’ longevity and productivity, especially in an era in which he was drafted in the 3rd round.
58. Kurt Rambis (1980)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1983: Kurt Rambis #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Rambis played for the Lakers from 1981-88 and 1993-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Ned Twyman (1961)
Henry Bibby (1972)
Earl Cureton (1979)
Suns Taken at 58:
Rich Jones (1969)*
Randy Allan (1974)
Sam McCants (1975)
*opted to stay in the ABA
“Rambo”, who played for the Phoenix Suns from 1989 to 1992, is yet another late-round steal that assisted in fortifying the Showtime Lakers run. With his iconic goggles and non-stop hustle, Rambis helped the Lakers win 4 championships in the 80s, with his best postseason run being in the 1985 playoffs. He started 19 games for Los Angeles, doing so alongside Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He essentially was the Lakers’ Dillon Brooks of the time.
He’d play 14 years in the NBA, doing so with the Lakers, Hornets, Suns, and Kings. While he had numerous memorable moments, none was more memorable than being clotheslined by Kevin McHale in the highly physical 1984 NBA Finals.
“I would probably be in jail right now if I had been able to do what I wanted to do after he upended me because I was going after him,” Rambis told Michael Cooper in a 2022 podcast interview. “If you look at the tape, I was headed right towards him. Worthy pushes me into the reporters, I ended up falling down, and Larry Bird ends up helping me up. By then, I was too tired to do anything else.”
57. Manu Ginboli (1999)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 14: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during action against the Detroit Pistons in Game three of the 2005 NBA Finals June 14, 2005 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Marcin Gortat (2005)
Frank Brickowski (1981)
Suns Taken at 57:
Marcin Gortat (2005)*
Emir Preldzic (2009)**
Alex Oriakhi (2013)***
*traded to Orlando for future considerations **player rights sold to Cleveland ***traded to Sacramento for Isaiah Thomas
Noticing a trend early in this series? Great teams (and Suns’ rivals) have done a stellar job hitting on late-round draft picks. And while the Suns drafted Marcin Gortat in 2005, they traded him to Orlando on draft night. The Spurs? They certainly didn’t trade a man who would come to live in the Suns’ side for 16 years, Manu Ginobili.
Manu was drafted by the Spurs in 1999, but he continued to play abroad, in Lega Basket and the EuroLeague, for three seasons before joining the Spurs in 2002. He entered the NBA as a polished 25-year-old player and instantly made an impact. 4th in Rookie of the Year voting, 3rd in Sixth Man of the Year voting in year 2, and an All-Star in year 3.
Manu was a four-time champion as he played his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 13.3 points while coming off the bench for 67% of his career. He was a two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA Team recipient, and won Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. He is easily the best player drafted 57th overall, and it’s not even close.
56. Amir Johnson (2005)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 24: Amir Johnson #15 of the Toronto Raptors prepares to shoot a free throw against the Detroit Pistons on March 24, 2015 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by B. Sevald/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Ramon Sessions (2007)
Mickey Johnson (1974)
Suns Taken at 56:
Jerry Everett (1985)
Chris Carr (1995)
Kevin McCullar, Jr. (2024)*
*draft rights traded to New York for Oso Ighodaro
We’re still navigating the back end of the draft, so every now and then, we’re going to run into players we aren’t overly familiar with. As I worked through the research and compared careers, Amir Johnson emerged as the clear choice at No. 56.
Selected by the Detroit Pistons, Johnson carved out a long, productive NBA career. Across 14 seasons with the Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds while appearing in 870 games. Not bad for the 56th pick.
The 6’9” big man entered the NBA directly out of high school and built a reputation as a dependable, available contributor. During the 2009-10 season with Toronto, he appeared in all 82 games. Years later, he started nine of Boston’s 14 playoff games during the Celtics’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017.
Johnson was never a star. He was never the face of a franchise. He wasn’t carrying the torch for anyone. What he was, however, was exactly what teams hope to find late in the second round: a reliable NBA player who sticks around for more than a decade and consistently provides value. When you’re evaluating the 56th pick, that’s the standard. And Amir Johnson set it.
55. Luis Scola (2002)
SALT LAKE CITY – NOVEMBER 1: Luis Scola #4 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on November 1, 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rockets won 106-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Patty Mills (2009)
Larry Brown (1963)
Suns Taken at 55:
Kenny Gattison (1986)
Rodney Johns (1988)
Luis Scola, who spent the 2012-13 season with the Phoenix Suns, was another example of an international prospect choosing to continue his career overseas before eventually making the jump to the NBA.
It was also clear that the San Antonio Spurs had their finger on the pulse of Argentine basketball, as they were the team that originally selected Scola in the 2002 NBA Draft. Rather than joining the NBA immediately, Scola remained overseas until 2007. By the time he was ready to make the jump, his draft rights had been traded to the Houston Rockets.
The move worked out well for Houston. Scola became a steady and productive contributor for five seasons with the Rockets. He played all 82 games in three consecutive years, finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2007-08, and earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Eventually, Houston waived him, and he landed in Phoenix. In his lone season with the Suns, Scola once again appeared in all 82 games before being traded to the Indiana Pacers for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a 2014 first-round pick.
Now, this one was close. Patty Mills has a very legitimate case to be considered the best player ever selected 55th overall. He won a championship with the Spurs and played 16 seasons in the NBA. But this is where a little subjectivity enters the equation. And maybe a little bias, too.
Perhaps the fact that Scola spent time in Phoenix and that I genuinely enjoyed watching him play influences the decision. That’s part of the fun of an exercise like this. Not every selection is determined solely by accolades and championships. Sometimes, a personal connection serves as the tiebreaker.
And in this case, that tiebreaker pushes Luis Scola to the top of the list at No. 55.
54. Sam Mitchell (1985)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1989: Sam Mitchell #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1989 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Mitchell played for the Timberwolves from 1989-92 and 1995-2002. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Mark Blount (1997)
Shake Milton (2018)
Shandon Anderson (1996)
Suns Taken at 54:
Bayard Forrest (1975)
Byron Wilson (1993)
Alec Peters (2017)
Sam Mitchell has an interesting story. He was selected 54th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft, a third-round pick of the Houston Rockets. The Rockets ultimately cut him, which wasn’t uncommon for players drafted that late at the time. So Mitchell took a different path. He headed to the Continental Basketball Association, where he spent the next four seasons. During that stretch, he won a championship with the Rapid City Thrillers and continued working toward another shot at the NBA.
Eventually, that opportunity came. Mitchell made his NBA debut as a 26-year-old rookie with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, proving that there is more than one path to making it in professional basketball.
From there, he carved out a long and productive career. Mitchell played 13 NBA seasons, retiring in 2002 at age 38. Over that span, he averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while logging 22.4 minutes per game.
That’s impressive value from the 54th overall pick, especially considering how long it took him to reach the NBA. And his basketball story didn’t end when his playing career did. Many fans probably recognize Mitchell’s name because of what came next. After transitioning into coaching, he won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2007 as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
53. Anthony Mason (1988)
10 Nov 1994: Forward Anthony Mason of the New York Knicks stands on the court during a game against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Knicks won the game 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Emmette Bryant (1964)
Greg Buckner (1998)
Suns Taken at 53:
Winston Crite (1987)
When it comes to the history of the 53rd overall pick, there’s Anthony Mason, and then there’s everybody else. Mason was a one-time All-Star, a one-time All-NBA selection, the 1995 Sixth Man of the Year, and a member of the 1997 All-Defensive Team. That’s a pretty impressive résumé for the 53rd pick.
He was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1988 NBA Draft, but opted to spend a season playing in Europe instead. As a result, Portland released his rights. After a stint with Anadolu Efes in Turkey, Mason returned to the United States and signed with the New Jersey Nets. He was waived shortly thereafter, then signed by the Denver Nuggets before bouncing around once again.
Everything changed in 1991 when he landed with the New York Knicks. That’s where my memories of Anthony Mason begin. Those mid-1990s Knicks teams were built differently. They were physical, tough, and fully prepared to turn every game into a rock fight. Mason fit that identity perfectly. The 6’8” power forward was one of the toughest players in the league and a key part of those Knicks teams that routinely battled deep into the postseason.
While New York never reached the mountaintop, Mason’s career continued to flourish. He was eventually traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Larry Johnson and later earned an All-Star selection with the Miami Heat in 2001, averaging 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
When it was all said and done, Mason played 13 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 882 games while averaging 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds.
52. Rasual Butler (2002)
MIAMI – NOVEMBER 5: Forward Rasual Butler #45 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball up the court against the Indiana Pacers during the game on November 5, 2002 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The Pacers won 83-79. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Fred Hoiberg (1995)
Toumani Camara (2023)
Suns Taken at 52:
Greg Grant (1989)
Anthony Goldwire (1994)
Toumani Camara (2023)*
Alex Toohey (2025)**
*traded to Portland in the Deandre Ayton trade **draft rights traded to Golden State in the Kevin Durant trade
Oh, pick No. 52. This is one that Suns fans might kick themselves over, at least in a roundabout way, because it’s where Toumani Camara was selected. And while Camara could someday become the best player ever drafted at No. 52, his career is still too young for me to hand him that crown. Instead, the honor goes to Rasual Butler, who stands out in a draft slot that doesn’t offer a ton of compelling options.
Butler carved out a long NBA career, playing 13 seasons with eight different franchises. He was the definition of a journeyman, finding ways to contribute wherever he landed. His most productive seasons came in the middle of his career with the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Along the way, he was involved in the massive five-team trade that sent Antoine Walker to the Miami Heat.
There aren’t a lot of accolades attached to Butler’s name. No All-Star appearances. No major awards. No lengthy list of accomplishments. What he did have was longevity. He stayed in the league for more than a decade, carved out a role for himself, and consistently found ways to contribute.
In many ways, that’s representative of the 52nd pick throughout NBA history. You’re usually not finding stars. You’re hoping to find someone who sticks. Rasual Butler did exactly that, which is why he gets the nod at No. 52.
51. Kyle Korver (2003)
INDIANAPOLIS – NOVEMBER 28: Kyle Korver #26 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 28, 2003. The Pacers won 90-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Corey Brewer (1998)
Monte Morris (2017)
Suns Taken at 51:
Dereck Whittenburg (1983)
Mike Morrison (1989)
As we close out the first installment of this series, we end with a good one. Kyle Korver. The sharpshooter out of Creighton University put together a 17-year NBA career and remains one of the greatest shooting specialists the league has ever seen.
Korver finished in the top 11 of Sixth Man of the Year voting four different times and earned a lone All-Star appearance during his career. He retired with a career 42.9% mark from beyond the arc and was one of the players who benefited most from the NBA’s evolution into a more spread-out, three-point-oriented game.
Four times, Korver led the league in three-point percentage. His most efficient season came in 2009-10 with the Utah Jazz, when he shot an absurd 53.6% from three. Granted, that came on only 2.1 attempts per game. As the league evolved, so did Korver’s role. By the end of his career, he averaged 4.6 three-point attempts per game and served as one of the NBA’s premier floor spacers.
Korver played for six different franchises throughout his career, although his most memorable years came with the Atlanta Hawks. He was part of that memorable Hawks starting lineup that produced four All-Stars in a single season, a rare accomplishment that reflected just how successful Atlanta was during that stretch.
For a player selected 51st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003, Korver represents tremendous value. A 17-year career. An All-Star appearance. One of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
That’s it for our journey today.
The back end of the second round is a fascinating place when viewed through the lens of NBA history. Prior to the late 1980s, it was often where teams took chances on international prospects, hoping that one day those players might make their way to the United States and contribute at the NBA level. Then came Drazen Petrovic. Not that international players weren’t being drafted before him, but his success helped accelerate a shift in perception. More and more international prospects began making the jump to the NBA, and the league is unquestionably better for it.
Even so, the back half of the second round remains a difficult place to find meaningful NBA talent. What this exercise has shown us is that the potential is there. You can find long careers. You can find starters. You can even find All Stars. But those players are the exception, not the rule.
Finding value this late in the draft requires patience, development, and opportunity. Talent alone isn’t enough. Organizations have to invest in those players and give them a pathway to grow. That’s what makes draft night so intriguing. Every pick carries a little bit of hope. And every once in a while, a player selected deep in the second round turns into something much more than anyone expected.
Tune in tomorrow as we continue the countdown and explore picks 50 through 41.
MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 05: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils gets the glove up during the third period against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Montréal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Weekes stressed that a deal is not imminent. But when it comes to the goaltending market, and the Devils organization in particular, Weekes putting that tidbit out there publicly is noteworthy. Weekes is as plugged in as anybody on those particular fronts, so if he’s hearing the Devils have Markstrom out there on the market, there’s probably some truth to that.
It’s not surprising that new GM Sunny Mehta is at least exploring the market on a Markstrom trade either. Much has been written about how his contract extension made no sense when it happened. Markstrom proceeded to turn in a season that was poor enough where we’re asking if there is any way out of that deal, including if a buyout is possible. One of my offseason predictions was that the Devils would indeed move on from Markstrom.
Of course, I assumed that when you played as poorly as Markstrom played, you make $6M AAV for two more seasons, you’re Markstrom’s age, and you have a 20-team no trade list beginning on July 1st…..the contract itself is a no-trade clause and the Devils are probably stuck with him. That may still prove to be true. But then I also remembered that this is the NHL, nobody is unmovable, and there are teams out there that actually have worse goaltending situations than the Devils. So I shouldn’t be surprised that if one from the outside were to squint hard enough, they could convince themselves that Markstrom was banged up last year, he has had a good track record for most of his career, and there might be a decent goaltender still in there.
Sunny Mehta exploring the trade market is one thing. Finding a potential partner is another, and agreeing on a deal is yet another hurdle to overcome. So this week, I decided it would be worth it to take a look at the other 31 teams and see what teams might make sense for Mehta to connect with on a potential deal.
But before we get into that, we should explore why it makes sense for Markstrom to be open to a trade.
What Incentive is There For Markstrom To Accept a Trade?
As we know, Markstrom has a 20-team no trade list. However, there is plenty of incentive for him to accept a deal. Particularly if the Devils have already made it known to Markstrom behind closed doors that they want to move on.
If you’re Sunny Mehta, is it possible he has already presented Markstrom with one of two options.
Option A: Markstrom can play hardball on a trade and/or refuse to cooperate. The Devils choose to indeed buy him out in the second buyout window. Markstrom can pocket 2/3 of the money owed to him and pick his next destination, but keep in mind, the arbitration process takes awhile. He might not hit the open market until sometime in August. By then, most teams will have their rosters more or less set going into training camp. It’s a game of musical chairs, and its possible there’s no chair remaining for Markstrom if this drags out well into the summer.
Option B: Markstrom accepts a trade to a team willing to take him and he gets as much of the $12M owed to him as possible (before taxes). Or at the very least, he gets the $6M owed to him this upcoming season, and his next team can figure out what to do with him with a year left on that deal. You may or may not wind up on the team you want to be on, but at least you’re still in the NHL and you have the opportunity to stick it to Sunny Mehta and the Devils down the road.
Which option do you think is preferable? I would say Option B if I were Markstrom. So I do think that has to at least be considered going into this exercise.
Now, let’s look at the teams across the NHL and see if there are any potential fits
The “We Have Our Franchise Goaltender, And We’re Paying Him a Lot of Money Already, So No Thanks” Tier
Teams: Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
We can go ahead and wipe about 25% of the league right off of the bat.
Boston and Calgary have made long-term investments in their young, homegrown goaltenders. Neither Swayman or Wolf is going anywhere anytime soon. The same can be said for Logan Thompson, who isn’t homegrown but has found a long-term home in the nation’s capital.
Jake Oettinger and Juuse Saros are coming off of down years. They also both have full NMCs, so they’re not going anywhere unless they want out.
That leaves three of the best goaltenders in the league in Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shesterkin, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, and with the possible exception of Shesterkin, I can’t see any scenario where any of them move this summer. Maybe there’s a scenario where Shesterkin asks out if the Rangers embrace a long-term rebuild, but that remains to be seen, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they want a 36-year old Jacob Markstrom instead.
The “We Either Have, Or We’re About To Pay Our Guy, so We’ll Pass” Tier
Teams: Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers , Seattle Kraken
Lukas Dostal had his struggles in his first season as the unquestioned starter in Anaheim, but he’s still just 25 years old and part of that growing Anaheim core. There’s little reason for the Ducks to move off of him.
Jakub Dobes played brilliantly for the Canadiens, helping to lead them to the Eastern Conference Final this past season. He’s part of the future in Montreal.
Kevin Weekes reported over the weekend that the Flyers and Dan Vladar are closing in on a 5-year extension in the “mid $5M AAV” range. Vladar isn’t going anywhere. Add in the Joseph Woll trade and Philly is seemingly set in net.
Joey Daccord had a bit of a down year by his standards this past season for the Kraken, but he’s been generally good in Seattle and is signed for four more seasons at $5M AAV. They also have an expensive backup in Phillip Grubauer entering the final year of his contract.
The “We’re Bad and We’re Rebuilding, So Markstrom Doesn’t Really Make Sense for Us At This Time” Tier
Teams: San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues
San Jose is an interesting team in that Yaroslav Askarov is the future there, but he has yet to consistently play well at the NHL level. He got plenty of runway this year but had his struggles. Alex Nedeljkovic is the current veteran tandem partner, and it doesn’t really make sense for San Jose to look to upgrade over Nedeljkovic at the moment when they just extended him.
Jordan Binnington might have already played his final game for the St. Louis Blues, as he’s a trade candidate this summer. Binnington also struggled this year, but he’s shown in international competition that he’s capable of elevating his game, and there’s less of a commitment to going with Binnington than there is of going with Markstrom. Joel Hofer is probably St. Louis’s future in net.
The “I’m Not Really Sure What’s Going On Here In The Big Picture, But I Do Know Taking on Markstrom Doesn’t Really Fix Anything” Tier
Teams: Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, TorontoMaple Leafs
Buffalo is a weird one where they have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen signed for three more years, Alex Lyon under contract next season, and former top prospect Devon Levi in the AHL. Lyon got the majority of the playing time for the Sabres in the postseason and was fine until he wasn’t. I don’t know what direction they’re planning on going in.
Carolina literally just won a Stanley Cup with Frederik Andersen once again raising his game in the postseason and former waiver claim Brandon Bussi getting the team over the finish line in the Cup Final. They’re also one of the smartest organizations in the league and one that doesn’t pay a lot of financial resources in goaltending, so there’s little reason to think they’re doing anything but going with some sort of Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov tandem. If they add a goaltender, its likely them bringing Andersen back.
Colorado has Mackenzie Blackwood under contract for four more seasons, but they ignored his contract and, correctly, rode the hot hand in Scott Wedgewood. Ultimately, Colorado needs to get more out of Blackwood, and with the Avalanche being as cap-strapped as they are, taking on Markstrom makes no sense for them.
Is Minnesota trading Jesper Wallstedt after he got the bulk of the playing time for the Wild this postseason? Wallstedt outplayed Filip Gustavsson, who is locked in at $6.8M AAV through 2031 and has a full NMC. Regardless, Minnesota has higher priorities this summer than taking on a Markstrom reclamation project…..mainly, what do they do at center and can they actually get Quinn Hughes to sign an extension?
Toronto has a logjam in net at the NHL level, as the new contract for Anthony Stolarz kicks in this season, Dennis Hildeby will require waivers beginning next season, and they just traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Flyers for Sam Ersson and Emil Andrae. I assume the thought process on their end is that Ersson is more likely to pass through waivers than Woll or Hildeby, and they view Andrae as a potential upgrade over Benoit. Regardless, I don’t see how adding Markstrom to the equation changes anything.
The “We’ll Only Consider This If You’ll Take Our Problem Off of Our Hands” Tier
Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, VegasGolden Knights
Columbus has Elvis Merzlikins under contract for one more season, and he posted a sub .900 save percentage for the fourth consecutive season. Jet Greaves was the far better goaltender. Maybe there’s a universe where Columbus views Markstrom as an upgrade and Mehta is content saving $600,000 against the cap and not being on the hook for Markstrom in 2027-28 in exchange for Merzlikins. I wouldn’t be looking to make that trade if I were Columbus though.
Ottawa is interesting in that Linus Ullmark is their guy, but he had a bad season, he took a leave of absence to address his mental health, and he’s signed for three more years at $8.25M. I don’t think the Senators are trying to move on from him, nor do I think they’re about to take on Markstrom just because the Devils are calling around. I also don’t want to speculate on his particular situation as mental health is a delicate topic. I’ll leave it at this….if Ullmark feels he needs a fresh start outside of Ottawa, maybe the Senators are a potential option in terms of a trade partner. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re talking about a Markstrom for Ullmark swap, but I guess there’s always a chance there could be an opening in net in Ottawa.
Next is the Penguins, who certainly have the cap space, the apparent need (Arturs Silovs is an RFA and Stu Skinner is a UFA), and an aging core that just got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in the last few years. I think Kyle Dubas would at least consider taking on Markstrom if it was worth his while (such as bailing them out of the Ryan Graves contract), but I fail to see how that makes sense from a Devils perspective.
That brings us to Vancouver, a place Markstrom is obviously familiar with as he played for the Canucks from 2014-2020 before departing in free agency. Vancouver currently has $13M tied up in goaltending between the oft-injured Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Vancouver is rebuilding, so they might not be particularly inclined to get off of either of their less than ideal goaltending contracts.
Last but not least is Vegas, who is paying Adin Hill $6.25M for five more seasons. Carter Hart mostly played well for Vegas during their deep playoff run before falling apart in the Cup Final. I don’t doubt that Vegas would love to find a way out of the Adin Hill business, but I don’t see why that makes much sense for the Devils.
The “The Hockey World Might Think This is a Good Idea But I’m Not Sure Why You Think Markstrom Is a Good Fit For Us” Tier
Teams: Chicago Blackhawks, UtahMammoth
The Blackhawks have Spencer Knight under contract for three more seasons, and they’d be smart to continue going with him rather than looking for a “quick fix” in net.
I get that pairing a veteran with a younger goaltender like Knight makes sense. I get that Chicago is looking to take a step forward this offseason after seeing San Jose and Anaheim pass them in the Western Conference hierarchy. And I get that Chicago has plenty of money to burn where taking on Markstrom would be no issue to them. What I don’t get is why Jacob Markstrom would sign up for that? I also think there are better uses for Chicago’s money than taking on a 36-year old goaltender who is in decline.
Utah is in a similar-ish spot, as they have Karel Vejmelma under contract for four more seasons, and I can understand them wanting a more reliable tandem goaltender than Vitek Vanecek, a pending UFA. But I think it makes more sense for them to target a younger goaltender that better fits the timeline of their group than acquiring a player who would be the oldest player on the roster once he gets there.
The “You Forgot About Arguably the Best Goaltender In the World, Who Is Also a Franchise Goaltender Being Paid Handsomely For A Long Time” Tier
Team: WinnipegJets
No, I didn’t forget about Connor Hellebuyck.
I do think there could potentially be an opening in Winnipeg coming soon. Connor Hellebuyck is clearly not happy about the direction of the Jets organization after this past season, and after getting a taste of success being a key member of the US Men’s Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics this year, it shouldn’t be surprising if he wants to get to a team with a better chance of winning a Stanley Cup than the Jets do in the next few years.
If the Jets shop Hellebuyck, he’ll be far and away the most desireable goaltender on the market this summer. And if they move him, it does create a vacancy. Perhaps there’s a universe where the Jets fancy themselves on being competitive again next season and they convince themselves that Markstrom is worth taking a chance on. Maybe there’s a universe where the Jets, Devils, and Panthers connect on a three-team deal that sends Hellebuyck to Florida and Markstrom to Winnipeg, assuming he wants to go there.
The “Markstrom Might Actually Be an Upgrade, So We’ll Consider It” Tier
Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers
In my opinion, the three teams that make the most sense in terms of being a Markstrom destination are the Red Wings, Oilers, and Panthers.
Starting with Detroit, they appear to be the right combination of desperate (ten seasons of playoff-less hockey in Detroit and counting) and having a potential need, with John Gibson under contract for just one more season and Steve Yzerman probably not having the upmost confidence in Sebastian Cossa’s ability to step in and perform at the NHL level. Detroit has plenty of recent history when it comes to bringing in older goaltenders, as Cam Talbot just finished a two-year deal with the Red Wings. Markstrom landing in Detroit is likely contingent on whether or not they hold on to Dylan Larkin, as there’s no point in acquiring a 36-year old goaltender if you’re trading Larkin away. And of course, Markstrom would have to want to go to Detroit which complicates matters. But I could see the Red Wings having interest.
Speaking of desperation, perhaps no team is more desperate to win right now than the Edmonton Oilers. Everybody in Edmonton is on the clock, with Connor McDavid having two years remaining on his deal, and Edmonton flamed out of the postseason thanks in part to Tristan Jarry’s and Connor Ingram’s inability to keep the puck out of the net. Edmonton doesn’t have a lot of tradable assets, which probably makes them an ideal trading partner in this scenario as Markstrom likely would not command a large return. As long as any deal doesn’t require the Devils to take back Tristan Jarry or Darnell Nurse, the Devils should be willing to take little to nothing from the Oilers in order to get out of the Markstrom business.
Last but not least is Florida, where Sergei Bobrovsky just finished the massive seven-year deal he signed there as a free agent. That deal saw the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but ultimately was worth every penny the Panthers paid as Bobrovsky was a key member of two championship clubs in South Florida. That said, Bobrovsky is coming off of the worst year of his career and he turns 38 this fall, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers go in a different direction in net.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that Markstrom is much of an upgrade given the season he’s coming off of. But there is an opening there, and I’m sure Sunny Mehta and Bill Zito keep in touch now that Mehta is the Devils GM. And I don’t think you’d need to do a lot of arm twisting to convince Markstrom to go to Florida, the place where he began his NHL career. Would you like to go to a proven Cup contender, play golf on your off days in December, and keep more of your money? I would think he would.
Final Thoughts
I still think a Markstrom trade at this time is unlikely, but the fact that Mehta is doing due diligence and gauging what the market is is a positive sign. The Devils can get .883 save percentage and -11 goals saved above expected goaltending from a lot of different sources, but they shouldn’t have to pay $6M for it for two more years. You can get that level of goaltending for 1/3 of the price, and we should be trying to do better than that anyways.
It’s a positive sign that Mehta identified goaltending as one of the problems with the Devils and is at least attempting to take steps towards addressing it. The dismissal of Dave Rogalski is a good start, but Rogalski, as his defenders love to tell me, wasn’t the one actually putting on the pads and playing the games. They could stand to get better performance between the pipes. And while this article doesn’t identify potential solutions to that problem, moving on from one of the biggest mistakes of the previous regime is a step in the right direction.
I would guess the most likely trade partners, if a trade were to come to fruition, are Edmonton and Florida. Edmonton is the right combination of desperate and organizational need, and they seem like the type of organization that remembers all too well how many times Jacob Markstrom frustrated them on any given night when he was playing for the rival Calgary Flames. As for Florida, they probably don’t have the trade assets to go all-in on someone like Connor Hellebuyck. If they don’t want to run it back with Bobrovsky, they’re going to have to turn somewhere for an experienced netminder with the roster that they have.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 05: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field on June 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, San Francisco Giants fans. Yesterday’s game against the Atlanta Braves was postponed in between the top and the bottom of the second inning, and will kick off again today at 11:00 a.m. PT, as Game 1 of a doubleheader. San Francisco leads Atlanta 3-2. The original game will proceed as scheduled, at 4:15 p.m. PT … assuming the weather allows it.
Since the first game is on the early side, it’s a combo BP/Game 1 gamethread for you all. For better and for worse.
Assuming that the teams use their scheduled Wednesday starters in the first game — which would make sense given that the added 27th player is only available for the second game — then it should be a matchup between Robbie Ray and JR Ritchie. Ray, a lefty, has made 14 starts, and is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA, a 5.25 FIP, and 66 strikeouts to 36 walks in 73.1 innings. Ritchie, a 22-year old rookie right-hander, is 1-1 in six games (five starts), with a 3.82 ERA, a 5.15 FIP, and 26 strikeouts to 18 walks in 30.2 innings.
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Plenty to get into in our midweek news roundup. We’ve got the return of future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, who has been out over two months and will finally be back with the Tigers this coming weekend. We have reactions to the first round of All-Star voting, as well as a look at whether or not baseball has a nepotism problem.
All that and much more below, do we’ll just jump right into it.
Kansas City Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch IV has been a breakout star this season. Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Lynch owned a 1.80 ERA in 30 relief appearances. He limited opponents to a .167 batting average and had issued one hit in his last five outings. In the seventh inning on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals, Lynch got the call out of the bullpen. With the game tied 3-3, Lynch was tasked with recording a scoreless inning. However, he didn’t get the job done. The Nationals scored three go-ahead runs and regained the lead behind their offense. Lynch didn’t have his best command. He walked two batters before Nationals infielder Curtis Mead belted a three-run homer. Mead hit an 88 mph slider left over the plate for his 11th home run of the year.
After missed a few more days, Ragans had recovered well enough that he was able to return to the mound in a limited capacity. He threw a 23-pitch bullpen session on June 10. The next morning, however, he awoke with discomfort in the arm. He couldn’t make it through playing catch on the field. Now, the Royals want to understand more about the pitcher’s case of VEO. “Ragans met with Dr. (Vincent) Key yesterday,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday. “He’s still having symptoms, so he’ll continue to be shut down. And we’re going to have him see another doctor in the next couple of days.
“The better pitchers have always let you know when they’re ready to move and ready for the major leagues,” Royals senior director of pitching performance Paul Gibson said. It became clear that Chourio was ready for a new challenge. In his last three starts, Chourio allowed four runs in 16 ⅓ innings. He won each outing and held opponents to a .193 batting average. Chourio will face developed hitters with High-A Quad Cities. The Royals rave about his elite command that features a plus-fastball and two distinct off-speed pitches. “His changeup and his curveball were both good pitches with higher ceiling,” Gibson said. “So like any young pitcher that has the velocity that Chourio has, running through lineups with that fastball-heavy attack is going to be a natural thing.”
This is something Garcia has been dealing with but only flares up at certain times, like it did on the foul ball tonight. Royals are working through next steps tonight but IL could be in play. We’ll see tomorrow. https://t.co/YcilqQ8jwJ
I don’t know…You want to point a finger somewhere but damned if I know where to aim. Spence did a credible job getting through the first four innings. The fifth was just a bridge—or and inning—too far. Maybe Matt Quatraro should’ve been quicker with the hook, but…waves hands at the bullpen what would you expect from that move? Quatraro said postgame that they hoped Spence could give the team five. Reasonable. And smart. When you’re talking about needing the Royals bullpen in 2026, four innings of work sounds a helluva lot better than five. More innings, more problems. There was the shoddy defense in left where Collins deflected a bases-loaded single from Luis García Jr. in that fateful fifth. Had he played it cleanly maybe a solitary run scores instead of two. Collins has left me largely unimpressed this season, but tough to get worked up over a gift run when some guy up a few batters later clears the bases.
You want to get ticked off, but it’s kind of tough to give a damn. That’s kind of the whole vibe around this bunch in 2026. It’s tough to give a damn. The thing is, I don’t think I can say anything worse about a baseball team. They’re just wholly uninteresting, uninspiring and uncompetitive.
At first glance, the Royals appear competitive in both batting average and strikeout rate. Yet once again, the same pattern emerges: a lack of impact. Their slugging percentage sits well below the league average, while their home-run rate ranks as the fourth-lowest in baseball during the period examined.
Production with runners in scoring position has not been distributed evenly either. Witt, Garcia, and a handful of timely contributions from Loftin have generated positive results, but much of the rest of the lineup has struggled to convert opportunities into meaningful damage.
That is why Kansas City’s struggles against left-handed pitching cannot be explained by a single statistic or one underperforming player. The organization has two hitters who have consistently demonstrated the ability to thrive in these matchups. It has also received occasional contributions from other members of the roster. What it has not found is a sufficiently broad offensive foundation capable of supporting those strengths.
With 3.0 fWAR in 72 games, Witt found himself ranked No. 9 on FanGraphs’ WAR charts, behind the likes of Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and Shohei Ohtani.
Today?
First place at 3.9 fWAR in 71 games.
With Judge on the IL, it’s a two-man race to MVP between Witt and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez. If Witt has his way, he’ll be Kansas City’s second player ever to win the year-end award.
For now, he’s pacing toward a third-straight All-Star appearance for a Royals team that has not had much go right for it over the past two seasons.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 12: Willi Castro #3 of the Colorado Rockies walks up to bat against the Athletics during the first inning of a game at Las Vegas Ballpark on June 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is important to put your best foot forward when constructing a lineup. The lead-off hitter has been one of the most interesting batting-order roles in baseball history, as the use of the spot has been tinkered with throughout the game’s history.
For the longest time, it was simply the spot where the fast person on the team would reside to get on base by any means necessary and steal second base. Over time, especially in the last decade, that spot in the lineup has evolved to produce more and more power threats to jump-start an offense and ensure that one of a team’s best hitters is getting as many plate appearances as possible in a game.
Whatever archetype a team pursues relies heavily on a single unifying factor: The hitter has to be able to produce.
The Colorado Rockies had the luxury of having one of the greatest lead-off hitters in baseball history for the better part of a decade in Charlie Blackmon. While he didn’t exactly burn rubber with his legs in the latter part of his career, Blackmon exemplified an excellent hitter to get on base by any means necessary while also tapping into power that made him dangerous at the top of the order. However, since his retirement after the 2024 season, the Rockies spent all of 2025 trying to find a hitter who sticks at the top of the order, and that has continued into 2026.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into what’s going on with the lead-off spot this season and who may have the chops to stick there for the near future.
The team stats
Entering Tuesday, the Rockies are a mixed bag out of the lead-off spot in the lineup. They rank seventh in batting average (.271), but rank 16th in on-base percentage (.331), seventh in slugging percentage (.397) and 23rd with 91 wRC+. As for some of the other prudent stats, the Rockies have a 22.8% strikeout rate (10th) and a 7.6% walk rate (26th).
It’s evident that the Rockies are, as an offense, aggressive when it comes to swings and tend to make much more contact. A highly ranked average makes sense with that philosophy, but it has shown its drawbacks. Lead-off hitters end up with a higher strikeout rate that reflects what the team is going after due to the lack of on-base skills. Colorado lead-off batters have drawn just 26 walks, while the Washington Nationals lead the league with 59.
They are not necessarily the worst things in the world, as making contact generally is the best way to yield results. The Rockies have a .342 BABIP out of the top spot in the lineup, which ranks third in all of baseball, just behind the Nationals (.365) and the Milwaukee Brewers (.345), while being just ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (.332). There is a good amount of luck at play with BABIP, but the top of the order is finding success swinging the bat and collecting hits.
The main concern has been that when the lead-off hitter reaches, not much happens afterward, as the team ranks 18th in runs scored (40). However, the players batting first are being productive as they have driven in the ninth-most runs in baseball with 37 RBI. So, while they have been generating some traffic for the big hitters behind them, they have done well to cash in on the opportunities afforded by the bottom of the order ahead of them. Even if they have just six home runs, the doubles and handful of triples have made the most of things.
Now, we can turn our attention to the players actually stepping up to the plate in the lead-off spot. In 2026, there have been 14 players to hit in the one spot of the lineup. However, only seven have made a start there, and for today’s purposes, we will briefly touch on the three hitters with the most appearances.
Edouard Julien (126 PA)
As the Rockies cycled through a few different options in the first spot of the batting order, Edouard Julien got the nod on April 6 and delivered a 2-for-5 day. He continued to find success through April and looked like the unconventional answer to the lead-off spot. However, Julien endured a horrendous May where he went 5-for-69 at the plate. He was dropped to the bottom third of the order on May 18 and, since then, has hit in the lead-off spot just twice as June has been a better month for him.
Overall, Julien has slashed .252/.341/.342 in the top spot of the order with two home runs, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases. He has also struck out 32 times against 15 walks.
Julien’s hit tool and ability to draw walks are what make him a viable lead-off option, but slumps like the one he had in May make him a little more unpredictable and harder to trust in that spot. The majority of his other time spent in the lineup has come in the nine-hole, where he can act as a pseudo lead-off hitter, which is still valuable in its own way.
Jake McCarthy (86 PA)
What better tool for a traditional lead-off hitter than speed? Jake McCarthy has speed to spare at the plate, and the Rockies hoped that McCarthy could thrive at the top of the order when given the opportunity. His first five appearances of the year all came as the lead-off hitter, where he went 2-for-18. Starting with his start on April 3, McCarthy saw his role relegated to the bottom part of the order where, like Julien, he could act as a type of lead-off hitter in the nine-hole to set the table for the Mickey Moniaks and Hunter Goodmans of the world.
As McCarthy continued to play hot through April and through May, he made a start as the lead-off hitter on May 20 and went 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored, and a stolen base. He continued to fill the spot until he became ill during the Chicago Cubs series at Coors Field. Since returning, he has moved more into the middle third of the order.
He is batting .238/.279/.400 in the lead-off spot with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI, and six stolen bases. He has struck out 18 times against four walks. His contact tools and speed are a great asset that will garner more looks in the lead-off spot as needed, but his numbers suggest that hitting in the bottom third of the order has brought about a lot of success and may be more beneficial to the lineup.
Willi Castro (50 PA)
That brings us to the Swiss Army knife of the Rockies lineup, Willi Castro. Bouncing around on defense and in the lineup, Castro has proven to be a useful tool for manager Warren Schaeffer. Castro has mostly been used in the heart of the lineup this season, rotating through the 3-to-6 spots in the lineup. He has been consistent in most spots, but the Rockies have experimented with using Castro in the first and second spots on occasion since May 13. Since that day, Castro has been hitting quite well as he fills in different spots, but the lead-off position has become more prevalent over the last two weeks in June, where he has started 5-of-8 games as the lead-off hitter.
On the year, Castro is slashing .378/.440/.556 with two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI. He has also shown off a keen eye with eight strikeouts against five walks. Castro’s ability to make quality contact while also being a switch-hitter is a significant advantage for a lead-off hitter. They are also skills that have translated well to batting in the second spot. What’s been fascinating is that, unlike Julien and McCarthy, Castro has done well as the first hitter of the game for the Rockies, where he is 5-for-11 with just one strikeout.
Castro has proven to be one of the quietly consistent hitters for the Rockies over the first two months and has heated up quite a bit more in June. His calm contact approach that can dip into power has made him an intriguing lead-off choice for the near future.
Who is next?
Schaeffer has shown that he is willing to experiment with shaking up the lineup and trying hitters in different spots. For now, Castro will see his fair share of at-bats from the top spot, but that can always change if he cools off. For what it’s worth, Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) could easily be a candidate to get some action at the top of the order at some point. After all, he slashed .285/.336/.455 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes as the lead-off man.
Lineup construction is a fickle thing and a constantly changing puzzle. But the right guy in the top spot of the order can make a difference in how the offense plays out.
Who would you like to see stick in the lead-off spot? Or what other players would you like to see get a crack at it? Keep things rolling in the comments below!
The Albuquerque Isotopes thumped their way to a victory once again as they took down Sugar Land 8-3. Charlie Condon had another two-hit game, including a triple and his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot. Jose Cordova, who replaced Zac Veen early in the game, went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Mike Antico had a two-run double in the game while Nic Kent had a pair of hits. Domingo Acevedo tossed 3.2 innings in his start, allowing three runs in the first inning. The bullpen then locked it down the rest of the way, giving up just three hits.
Thanks to a four-run fourth inning and a crucial insurance run in the seventh inning, the Hartford Yard Goats secured a 6-5 victory. Roc Riggio had himself a good night at the plate for Hartford, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple. He also drove in a pair of runs, including the game-winning run in the seventh. Aidan Longwell also contributed his 10th home run of the season with a three-run blast in the fourth inning as part of a two-hit day. Konner Eaton made the start on the mound and went just 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on two hits while allowing four walks. Stu Flesland III ended up tossing 4.1 innings of bulk relief, allowing just one run on four hits. Carlos Torres delivered two scoreless innings, followed by Andrew Baker, who secured the save despite allowing a run in the bottom of the ninth.
It was a high-scoring affair in Spokane as the Indians scored in all but two innings and survived a rough top of the eighth en route to victory. Spokane had 15 hits with the 1-through-6 batters each collecting at least two. The team slugged four home runs with Jack O’Dowd contributing his sixth of the year, Roynier Hernandez hitting two homers while driving in six, and Alan Espinal adding a two-run homer in the eighth. Max Belyeu also had a pair of doubles and scored four runs. Bryson Hammer had a solid start, going five innings and allowing two runs, but it was Bryan Perez that had the rough night on the mound. Pitching in the eighth, he allowed eight runs on six hits, including two home runs, while recording just two outs. Francis Rivera replaced him to finish the inning followed by a clean ninth to secure the save.
The Fresno Grizzlies delivered a walk-off victory thanks to Ashly Andujar as they won 4-3. Despite 12 hits, the Grizzlies went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position but the Grizzlies made it count. Tanner Thach led the offense with three hits while Andujar, Kyle Fossum and Carlos Renzullo each had two hits. Jesus Freitez drove in a pair of runs with a solo home run in the fifth inning and an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 3-3 before coming around to score the winning run. Austin Newton had a good night on the mound, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over seven innings. Dylan Crooks pitched the last two innings and have up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth, but the offense bailed him out. An interesting thing of note was that neither team issued a walk.
LeBron James’ decision on his future remains one of the biggest uncertainties heading into this NBA offseason.
With the 41-year-old superstar not ruling out retirement just yet, several teams likely will jump on the opportunity of landing a future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee on their rosters.
The Warriors have been one of the teams considered to be a likely suitor for James in free agency, but Golden State reportedly anticipates the four-time NBA MVP to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Openness does not equal anticipation,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Wednesday, citing team sources.
“All the intel that Warriors decision-makers have gathered continues to point toward James’ return to the Lakers, team sources said, and they are currently plotting their summer under that premise,” Slater wrote.
“The Warriors’ pitch, if the door cracks open, would be simple. They can clear room for the full $15.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel — a team-friendly, low-risk bargain with on-court and off-court financial upside.”
James is coming off a two-year, $101.4 million contract that he signed with the Lakers in 2024 and expired after the conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA season.
The 22-time NBA All-Star selection reportedly is in negotiations with the Lakers, making his return to Los Angeles the likeliest scenario ahead of James’ potentially 24th career season.
However, if the two sides do not come to an agreement, Golden State is expected to enter the sweepstakes to acquire James.
“James is an obvious top free agent target at that price point,” Slater also wrote. “The Warriors could theoretically tack on a second-season player option and get Stephen Curry in on the recruitment process, if required. But they haven’t knocked on that door because they’ve been given any indication it can be unlocked.”
With James’ history of playing with Curry during the 2024 Olympics and friendship with Warriors star Draymond Green, it would make sense for James to join Golden State for another potential championship run.
But with a return to Los Angeles being the likeliest scenario for James this offseason, it might be more difficult now to imagine the 21-time All-NBA selection donning a Warriors jersey at least once before his illustrious career comes to a close.
The Dodgers (47-27) beat the Rays (41-29), 1-0, behind a sixth inning Shohei Ohtani home run. Los Angeles clinched the series as they have took two out of three with today's afternoon matinee being the series finale.
Los Angeles is tossing Ohtani on the mound a day after he hit the game-winning homer. Ohtani is coming off his worst pitching performance as he allowed three earned runs over 6.2 innings. Ohtani's streak of 10 straight starts with two or fewer earned runs to start the season is over. The Dodgers are 11-2 at home over their last 13 games and won nine of them by two or more runs.
Tampa Bay will have Shane McClanahan start today in a meeting of the aces. With McClanahan on the mound, Tampa Bay has lost two straight, but is 8-5 overall this season. The Rays have dropped four of the last five games as the west coast trip has not been kind to them. Tampa Bay has been outscored 20-14 in the last five games as they scored eight runs in the only win — getting outscored 17-6 in the losses.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Rays at Dodgers
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 3:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Rays at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-185), Tampa Bay Rays (+152)
Spread: Rays +1.5 (-143), Dodgers -1.5 (+119)
Total: 7.0
Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Dodgers
Wednesday's pitching matchup (June 17): Shane McClanahan vs. Shohei Ohtani
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .297 with 76 hits, 15 home runs and 42 RBI over 256 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Alex Freeland is hitting .225 with 32 hits and 46 strikeouts over 142 at-bats
The Rays’ Yandy Diaz is hitting .313 with 81 hits, 12 home runs, and 46 RBI over 259 at-bats
The Rays’ Cedric Mullins is hitting .198 with 41 hits and 44 strikeouts over 207 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Dodgers
The Dodgers are 37-37 ATS
The Rays are 41-29 ATS, ranking fourth-best
The Dodgers are 41-33 to the Under, ranking fourth-best
The Rays are 34-32-4 to the Under
The Dodgers are 16-20 ATS at home
The Rays are 18-19 ATS on the road
Expert picks & predictions for today's game between the Dodgers and the Rays
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Rays and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.0
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Jun 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) in action against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Though the Atlanta Braves only completed one inning on Tuesday night, the injury scares continued. In the bottom of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants, Michael Harris II was removed due to lower back tightness. There has not been any update on his status at this time.
Earlier this month, Harris dealt with lower back tightness and was out of the lineup for a couple days. He was able to come on as a pinch hitter and win the game for Atlanta, so hopefully this is a similar situation and nothing overly serious.
As far as the contest, the game was suspended in the bottom of the second inning and will resume this afternoon at 2pm ET with a 3-2 Giants lead.
More Braves News:
Check out the latest Braves Biweekly to be caught up on how Atlanta has performed the first half of June.
Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress has been connected to the Braves, so here is a scouting report ahead of the MLB Draft.
Philadelphia (40-33) clinched the series over Miami (36-38) with an 8-2 win that followed a 7-0 shutout on Monday. The Phillies have won three of the last four games and are 10-4 in June, as are the Marlins despite two-straight losses.
Miami has the second-best ERA in June (3.29), while Philadelphia is eighth (3.88). Both team's pitching staffs are top 10 in OBA, WHIP, strikeouts, and saves. On the offensive end, both teams are middle of the pack in batting average and most offensive categories with only home runs separating the two (PHI 21, MIA 15). Philadelphia is 5-1 versus Miami this season and have outscored the Marlins, 29-13.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Marlins at Phillies
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 1:05 PM EST
Site: Citizen Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Marlins at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-114), Miami Marlins (-105)
Spread: Phillies +1.5 (-187), Marlins -1.5 (+153)
Total: 9.0
Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Phillies
Wednesday's pitching matchup (June 17): Sandy Alcantara vs. Andrew Painter
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .324 with 79 hits, 9 home runs and 34 RBI over 244 at-bats
The Phillies’ Adolis Garcia is hitting .195 with 45 hits and 84 strikeouts over 231 at-bats
The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .338 with 98 hits, 5 home runs, and 31 RBI over 290 at-bats
The Marlins’ Kyle Stowers is hitting .211 with 39 hits and 64 strikeouts over 185 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Phillies
The Phillies are 27-46 ATS, ranking second-worst
The Marlins are 36-38 ATS
The Phillies are an MLB-best 39-31-3 to the Under, ranking third-best
The Marlins are 41-30-3 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
The Phillies are 13-25 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
The Marlins are 16-19 ATS on the road and 12-12 ATS as an away underdog
Expert picks & predictions for today's game between the Marlins and the Phillies
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Marlins and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Marlins at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
8. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
7. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
5. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
The defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points. Current cap hit: $975,000.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns, Bobby McMann.
